Foldable connector assembly for miniature circuit card

ABSTRACT

A PCMCIA card includes a support, circuit components for providing faxmodem functions with respect to the support, a housing containing at least part of the support, a retractable cord mechanism at least partly contained in the housing for connecting the electronic component with an external device for communications therewith, the retractable cord mechanism including a cord and a storage mechanism for storing at least part of the cord in the housing, and a foldable connector coupled to the cord for storage in the card and for pulling from the card for connecting to the external device. The foldable connector includes a main body portion and a supplemental body portion which releasably and pivotably attach to one another. Alternate embodiments use optical or radio signal coupling from the PCMCIA card and all embodiments do not require a separate telephone connector to a telephone wall jack.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/037,416filed on Mar. 10, 1998 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/412,718,filed Mar. 29, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,966, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/231,203, filed Apr. 21, 1994, nowabandoned, the entire disclosures of which hereby are incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally, as is indicated, to miniaturecircuit cards and, more particularly, to miniature circuit cards havinga retractable cord assembly. Additionally, the invention relates toPCMCIA cards or the like having a retractable cord assembly mountedthereon and/or at least partly therein. Further, the invention relatesto a foldable connectors and, more particularly, to foldable connectorassemblies for use with miniature circuit cards and the like.

BACKGROUND

In current computer technology a computer usually has electroniccircuitry, memory, one or more processors, such as microprocessors, andlong term storage medium, such as those known as a hard drive or someother type device. The computer is able to interface with a keyboard, amouse, a track ball, a light stylus, etc., to receive input. Thecomputer also may be interconnected with one or more other devices, suchas peripheral equipment, other computers, telephone lines, etc. toreceive and/or to output information, data, etc., as is well known.Usually a computer has a display on which information, data, images,etc. can be viewed by an observer, such as a person using the computer.

Historically various circuit cards have been connected in computers toadd capabilities and/or to enhance capabilities. Exemplary circuit cardsinclude video drivers, ports, memory, and others, as are well known.Many modern computers now also include a circuit card which has a modemcapability and may also have a facsimile machine capability, such asthose which are send only and those which are send and receive. One ormore telephone connectors usually are mounted on such modem circuitcards and faxmodem circuit cards. An exemplary type connector isreferred to as an RJ-11 connector or jack. Such RJ-11 jack usually is afemale type, although the gender thereof is not critical.

To connect the faxmodem to a telephone system, such as that whichterminates at a female RJ-11 jack wall connector or the like, a separatetelephone cable is required. Such separate telephone cable usuallyincludes a male RJ-11 connector at each end. The respective RJ-11connectors can be plugged into their respective female RJ-11 jacks atthe wall and at the faxmodem card. Unfortunately, sometimes a computeruser may not have available a separate telephone cord to connect thefaxmodem of the computer to a telephone system wall jack, for example.This problem is exacerbated when the computer is a portable type such asa laptop computer or a notebook computer; sometimes the telephone cordsimply is left behind, forgotten, lost, and so on. Without such separatetelephone cord, the faxmodem could not be used. Accordingly, it would bedesirable to avoid such loss and/or to eliminate the need for such aseparate telephone cord or other connector between a faxmodem card of acomputer, especially a portable computer, and a telephone system.

In the past the faxmodem circuits of a computer have been able toreceive incoming data, such as signals representing an incomingfacsimile transmission, digital data other than facsimile format, andtelephone messages, such as audio or voice type messages. The foregoingcollectively may be referred to hereinafter as data, regardless of thetype of data or information. Such data often is able to be stored forrelatively long term storage in the hard drive or other storage mediumof the computer and later can be read out, played out, transmitted out,etc. For example, a received facsimile message can be displayed on thecomputer monitor or printed. Digital data received can be displayed onthe monitor, used to operate the computer, printed out, such as a wordprocessed document, etc. Incoming voice messages can be digitized andstored for a subsequent playback through an appropriate amplifier andspeaker system. For such purpose, a speaker jack or telephone jack whichmay have associated therewith amplifier equipment can be used to produceaudio signals to be heard by the computer user. Usually, such audiofunction requires a separate amplifier system independent of thecomputer to receive signals from the computer and to amplify thosesignals to be played back by a speaker, headset, etc.

A fairly recent development in circuit card technology for use withcomputers, especially portable computers, and more especially relativelysmall size portable computers, such as laptop computers, notebookcomputers, personal digital assistant, etc., has been the miniaturecircuit card referred to as PCMCIA. The relatively small computers oftendo not have adequate space to include a faxmodem, for example.

However, the faxmodem function and/or other functions can be provided byconnecting a PCMCIA circuit card, other similar miniature circuit card,or the like, to the computer. Such PCMCIA cards usually have connectorsthereon for plugging into or otherwise connecting to a PCMCIA connectorslot that is built as part of the computer. When it is desired toprovide the computer with faxmodem capability, a PCMCIA card having afaxmodem thereon can be plugged into such connector slot. Such afaxmodem PCMCIA card would have appropriate electronic componentsthereon for providing the faxmodem function in association with thepower and control functions supplied by the interconnection with thecomputer. A separate telephone jack, such as an RJ-11 jack, may beattached to a portion of the PCMCIA card or may be built into thecomputer itself. A separate telephone cord is required to connect suchjack to a telephone system or to some other piece of equipment to whichthe faxmodem is intended to be connected.

Conventional PCMCIA cards are miniature circuit cards which usuallyinclude a support, such as a printed circuit board, a multiple terminalconnector at one edge of the printed circuit board, and a housing forenclosing at least part of the circuit board and electronic components(or other components) which are mounted thereon. The housing providesvarious protective functions, as is well known. The PCMCIA cardconnector is exposed at an end of the housing to provide the desiredconnection directly to the PCMCIA slot of the computer or such otherdevice to which the PCMCIA card is to be connected. Sometimes spacewithin the housing or cover of the PCMCIA card is expanded by using astepped or non-planar housing shape.

Most electrical connectors are too large to fit inside a PCMCIA card.However, it would be desirable to store a connector at least partlyinside such a card or the like to provide protection for the connectorand to reduce the space requirements for the card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a telephone type or other type of connectionis made from a circuit card, such as a miniature circuit card, withoutthe need for a separate cable connector. The circuit card may, forinstance, be installed within a housing of a portable lap top computeror other electronic device to provide the electronic device with theability to communicate over telephone lines and/or local area networks.The circuit card includes a retractable cord assembly having a foldableRJ-type male connector coupled to an end of a retractable cord. Theconnector includes a main body portion and a supplemental body portionpivotally and releasably attached to one another. The main body portionincludes an electrical terminal for making an electrical connection witha female receiving jack such as, for example, a telephone jack, a LANjack, etc. The supplemental body portion includes a locking member whichallows the connector to lock into the female receiving jack when themain body portion and the supplemental body portion are rotated to aclosed position with respect to one another. During storage of theconnector, the main body portion and the supplemental body portion maybe rotated to an open position such that at least a portion of theconnector may, for example, be retracted into the housing of a portablecomputer. In this manner the connector may be protected from damageduring storage.

The supplemental body portion may be detached from the main body portionand reattached or replaced if necessary. Thus, if the supplemental bodyportion is damaged, a user does not need to replace the entire circuitcard but rather just the supplemental body portion thereby saving cost.

According to one aspect of the invention a foldable electrical connectorincludes a connector body including a main body and a supplemental body,an electrical terminal mounted with respect to said main body for makingan electrical connection, and a locking member for holding the connectorin an electrical device for making electrical connection, and a meansfor releasably attaching the main body to the supplemental body.

According to one more limited aspect of the invention, the means forreleasably attaching includes a spring loaded hinge having a retractablepin coupled to either the main body or supplemental body and a means forreceiving the retractable pin disposed in the other one of the main bodyor the supplemental body.

According to another more limited aspect of the present invention, themain body is pivotal with respect to the supplemental body when the mainbody and the supplemental body are attached.

According to still another aspect of the invention, an RJ-type connectoris provided. The RJ-type connector includes a connector body including amain body and a supplemental body, an electrical terminal mounted to themain body for making an electrical connection, and a locking member forholding the connector in an electrical device for making electricalconnection. The supplemental body is detachable with respect to the mainbody.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method ofinterfacing a foldable RJ-type male telephone plug connector with afemale connector, the telephone plug connector including a main body anda supplemental body releasably and pivotably secured to the main body,and the supplemental body including a locking member for locking insideof the female connector. The method including the steps of attaching themain body to the supplemental body, pivoting the supplemental body intoa closed position with respect to the main body, and inserting the mainbody and the supplemental body into the female connector until thelocking member locks inside the female connector.

According to a more limited aspect of the present invention, the methodof interfacing the foldable RJ-type male telephone plug connector intothe female connector further includes the steps of unlocking the lockingmember from the female connector, removing the main body and thesupplemental body from the female connector, and detaching thesupplemental body from the main body.

Examples of other uses of the retractable cord assembly of the inventioninclude for various network type devices and networking cards andmodems, such as those known as Ethernet, token ring, LAN, and otherswhich currently exist and may exist in the future. Further, theinvention is useful to provide retractable cord functions for modems,faxmodems, and the like, whether built into a computer, provided on aseparate circuit card connected inside a computer case, as part of aPCMCIA card attachable to a computer, and free or stand alone modems,faxmodems, and the like. The retractable cord assembly also may be usedboth in portable computers and in nonportable computers. The retractablecord assembly may be used in conjunction with other types of devicesused in the electronics field, such as microphones which are intended tobe effectively built into a computer or other device, permitting suchmicrophone to be withdrawn from the computer case and subsequentlyeasily stored back in or at the case.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent as the following descriptionproceeds. It will be appreciated that while a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is described herein, the scope of the invention is to bedetermined by the claims and equivalents thereof.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in thespecification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the followingdescription and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certainillustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative,however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of theinvention may be suitably employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a computer system with a miniature PCMCIAcard coupled to a wall jack telephone connector;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a miniature PCMCIA circuit card with aretractable cord assembly in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the PCMCIA card of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation section view of thePCMCIA connector end of the PCMCIA card showing the printed circuitboard supported within the housing of the PCMCIA card;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the retractable cordassembly mounted in the PCMCIA card housing;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the retracting spring of theretractable cord assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic illustration of a brake mechanism forthe cord of the retractable cord assembly;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a computer with a PCMCIA cardhaving an optical coupling to an optical receiver/transmitter;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a computer with a PCMCIA cardhaving an radio coupling to a radio receiver/transmitter;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a PCMCIA card, from which part of one coverpart has been removed, with a retractable cord assembly in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention; and the following drawingfigures concern portions of other embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side elevation view of the interior of the card;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a retractable cord assembly circuit board;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the spool of the retractable cordassembly;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation section view of the spool of FIG. 13 lookinggenerally in the direction of the arrows 14--14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a pivot pin used for mounting the spool andfor mounting the pawl of the retractable cord assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the pivot pin;

FIGS. 17-19 are, respectively, side, left end, and right end views ofthe power spring for the spool of the retractable cord assembly of FIG.10;

FIGS. 20-21 are, respectively, end and side views of a strain reliefclip;

FIGS. 22-24 are, respectively, top, side and end views of a wiperterminal;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged top view of the wiper terminal positioned withrespect to and in a channel of the spool, one conductor of the cord, andpivot pin;

FIGS. 26A and 26B are enlarged plan views of the pawl locking mechanismof the retractable cord assembly positioned relative to the spool, cord,spool, and pcmcia housing, the pawl being shown in unlocked mode andlocked mode, respectively;

FIGS. 27 and 28 are, respectively, top plan and side elevation views ofthe pawl;

FIGS. 29-31 are, respectively, top plan, end elevation, and side viewsof the pawl spring;

FIGS. 32 and 33 are end and plan views of a ferrite bead;

FIG. 34 is a schematic top plan view of a PCMCIA type electrical circuitcard including a retractable cord mechanism and a foldable, flippable,or rotatable electrical connector stored within the circuit cardhousing;

FIGS. 34A and 34B are, respectively, fragmentary front end views of twoembodiments of PCMCIA type electrical circuit card in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 35 is a schematic isometric view of a socket type connector forreceiving a conventional telephone connector, such as an RJ-11 typeelectrical connector;

FIG. 36 is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electrical connectorin accordance with the present invention including a pivot pin typeassembly of a main body and supplemental body portion of the connector;

FIG. 37 is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electrical connectorin accordance with the present invention including a living hinge typeassembly of a main body and supplemental body portion of the connector;

FIG. 38 is a top plan view of the foldable electrical connector inunfolded condition;

FIG. 39 is a section view of the unfolded electrical connector lookingalong the direction of the arrows 39--39 of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a bottom plan view of the electrical connector of FIG. 38 inunfolded conditions; and

FIG. 41 is a schematic illustration showing fully unfolded, partlyfolded and fully folded electrical connector schematically depictingoperation of the invention.

FIG. 42A is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes a pair of receiving flanges is detached fromthe supplemental body portion which includes a releasable hingeassembly.

FIG. 42B is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes the pair of receiving flanges is attached tothe supplemental body portion which includes the releasable hingeassembly.

FIG. 43 is an enlarged cross-sectional side plan view of the releasablehinge assembly.

FIG. 44A is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes a releasable hinge assembly is detached fromthe supplemental body portion which includes a pair of receivingflanges.

FIG. 44B is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes the releasable hinge assembly is attached tothe supplemental body portion which includes the pair of receivingflanges.

FIG. 45A is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes a pair of screw receiving flanges isdetached from the supplemental body portion which includes a screwreceiving tube.

FIG. 45B is a schematic isometric view of a foldable electricalconnector in accordance with the present invention in which the mainbody portion which includes the pair of screw receiving flanges isattached to the supplemental body portion which includes the screwreceiving tube.

DESCRIPTION

Referring, now, in detail to the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals designate like parts in the several figures, and initially toFIG. 1, a PCMCIA card 10 is connected to a PCMCIA slot connector 11 of acomputer 12. A cord 13 provides for connection between the PCMCIA card10 and another connector 14, for example, to provide for electricalcommunications therebetween.

The computer 12 may be any type of computer, such as a desktop computer,portable computer, notebook computer, laptop computer, personal digitalassistant (PDA), etc., which may be referred to collectively below ascomputer. For use with a PCMCIA card, the computer 12 preferably is anotebook or subnotebook, e.g., PDA, computer. The computer 12 may have akeyboard 15, display 16, and power supply 17, either of the batterytype, connection to a utility company, etc., as is conventional. ThePCMCIA socket connector 11 may be a standard type for connecting with aPCMCIA card.

The PCMCIA card 10 may be one having electronic components thereof whichare able to provide facsimile functions and modem functions, oftenreferred to as a faxmodem PCMCIA card. Such electronic components of thecard are able to interact with software in the computer 12 to providethe desired faxmodem functions, as is known.

The cord 13 may be an electrical cord or cable having a pair ofelectrical conductors and insulation separating them, as is well know.The cord may be of appropriate size and strength characteristics able toprovide not only the electrical functions described herein but also thestorage and other use functions described. More or fewer conductors alsomay be included in the cable. Other types of cords also may be used. Oneexample is an optical cable in which optical signals can be transmittedfor connecting the circuit card 10 with the connector 14. Forconvenience and brevity of description hereinafter, the cord 13 isdescribed as a two wire cable having a male RJ-11 telephone connector 18at one end for connection to a female RJ-11 14 jack, which in turn ismounted in a wall of a building structure 19; and such jack 14 iselectrically connected by appropriate telephone cables 20 to a telephonesystem (not shown). It will be appreciated, though, that other types ofcables, connectors, and communications systems other than a telephonesystem also may be used and/or coupled to or associated with the PCMCIAcard 10 and computer 12. One example is a direct connection to anothercomputer; and another example is a direct connection to an electroniccontrol system for lighting, machinery, etc.

Additionally, although the circuit card 10 is described hereinafter as aPCMCIA card, it will be appreciated that the circuit card 10 may bevirtually any type of circuit card, although preferably a miniaturetype. Examples are those sold under the designation PCMCIA, PCMCIA-II,and so on. Further, although the PCMCIA card 10 is shown connecteddirectly to a computer 12, it will be appreciated that the PCMCIA card10 may be connected to other types of devices, connectors, supports,equipment, etc. as is known. One example is an adapter able to haveseveral PCMCIA cards connected thereto, and in turn being connected to afurther device, such as a computer or other apparatus. Other examples,such as lighting control systems, machinery control systems, etc. arementioned above and otherwise would be obvious to a person havingordinary skill in the art.

Referring the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the PCMCIA card 10 is shown in enlargedview. The PCMCIA 10 card includes a printed circuit board 30, forexample, made of plastic, epoxy, or some other material which preferablyis not electrically conductive. A plurality of printed circuit traces orother conductive means may be on the printed circuit board 30, in theboard and/or through the board, as is well known. For simplicity ofillustration, such printed circuit traces, conductive paths, etc. arenot illustrated in the drawings.

As is seen at the left end relative to the illustration of FIGS. 2-4, anelectrical connector 31 is provided to connect the PCMCIA card 10, andespecially the circuitry on the printed circuit board 30, to a PCMCIAslot connector, such as that shown at 11 in FIG. 1. The electricalconnector 31 preferably has a plurality of conductive terminals, leads,etc., thereby to provide a plurality of electrical interconnectssimultaneously by such electrical connector, as is known. Mounted on theprinted circuit board 30 are a plurality of electronic components, suchas integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc., allgenerally designated 32. Among those electronic components may be thosewhich provide for the facsimile and modem functions of the PCMCIA card10. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic components 32 may bethose which provide memory functions for a computer, program functionsand/or other functions. A connection generally designated 33 is providedbetween the electrical connector 31 and the electronic components 32 orthe circuit paths on a printed circuit board 30 to which such componentsare connected thereby to provide interconnection thereof with thecomputer 12 or the like. The interconnects 13 may be electrical wires,spring clips, etc.

As is seen in FIGS. 2-4, the circuit card 10 includes a housing or cover34 formed of respective upper and lower cover parts 34a, 34b, which aresecured together with the printed circuit board 30 in the space 35therein. The cover 34 preferably encloses most or all of the printedcircuit board 30 in the space 35 to avoid dirt entry, to prevent theelectronic components 32 from being manually touched causing grease ordirt to be applied to such components and/or to the leads thereof or tothe printed circuit traces on the circuit board 30, and to preventpossible shock, short circuiting, etc. One or more mounting supports 36may be provided to mount the printed circuit board 30 in the space 35,for example, by securing the mounting support 36 both to a surface ofthe printed circuit board and to a surface of one of the cover parts,such as that shown at 34b. Ordinarily the sole connection to suchcomponents 32 is via the electrical connector 31.

A retractable cord assembly 40 is mounted with respect to the printedcircuit board 30 in the housing 34 of the PCMCIA circuit card 10. Theretractable cord assembly 40 includes the cable 13, at least part ofwhich is stored on a cord storage reel 41; electrical connection 42 tothe conductors, circuit traces, electronic components 32, etc. of thePCMCIA card; and the connector 18. When the electronic components 32 ofthe PCMCIA card 10 providing faxmodem function, the cable 13 may be atelephone cable having two conductors and the connector 18 may be anRJ-11 connector intended to be plugged into an RJ-11 wall jack 14 orsimilar device. If desired, the connector 18 may be connected into anRJ-11 type jack in another computer or it may be connected to some othertype of device. Also, the connector 18 may be other than an RJ-11connector.

Via the connector 18, cable 13, and connection 42, the faxmodem providedby the electronic components 32 may be connected to a telephone systemand via the electrical connector 31, the electronic components 32 may beconnected to a computer to provide faxmodem function with respectthereto.

Preferably at least part of the retractable cord assembly 40 not only ismounted in but also is stored in the housing 34. Most preferably,substantially the entire cable 13 can be stored within the housingleaving exposed only the connector 18. The connector 18 may be pulled towithdraw cable 13 from the housing, extending such cable to connect withthe RJ-11 jack 14, for example. Exemplary lengths of cable for suchpurpose may be from 7 feet to 9 feet or about from about 2 to about 4meters. Such length, though, is not intended to be a limitation of theinvention. If desired, part of the cable 13 may extend outside thehousing and/or part of the reel 41 and/or other parts of the retractablecord assembly 40 may be mounted, supported or exposed outside thehousing 34.

Turning to FIG. 5, the storage reel 41 of the retractable cord assembly40 includes a cable storage reel 50 capable of neatly storing the cable13 wound thereon; a spring storage reel or cartridge 51 within which ahelical, circular, or other spring 52 (FIG. 6) can be neatly stored, anda mounting arbor 53. The cable storage reel 50 and spring storagecartridge 51 preferably are mounted on the arbor 53. The arbor 53 maypass through an opening (not shown) in the printed circuit card.Alternatively, the printed circuit card may be so designed as not toextend into the area 54 where the retractable cord assembly 40 ismounted in the housing 34 of the PCMCIA card 10.

Slip rings or bushings 55, 56 mount the arbor 53 in openings 57, 58 inthe respective cover parts 34a, 34b. Preferably the arbor 53 extendsgenerally perpendicularly with respect to the major substantially planarextents of the cover parts 34a, 34b and the cable storage reel 50 andspring cartridge 51 are mounted so that as they rotate, such rotation isgenerally in parallel with the plane of the printed circuit board 30without rubbing against the printed circuit board.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, as the cable 13 is pulled out of the housing34, the cable storage reel 50, spring cartridge 51, and arbor 53 rotateclockwise. During such rotation the spring 52 is tightened. As the cable13 is drawn back into the housing 34, under the force influence of thespring 52, the arbor 53, cable storage reel 50 and spring cartridge 51rotate counterclockwise.

As is seen in FIG. 2, a stereo jack 59 or equivalent connector forconnection to a speaker system, amplifier system, headset, etc. isshown. Such jack 59 may be coupled directly to circuitry components 32to provide audio output that can be heard by a user. As an example, suchjack may be provided with voice messages stored digitally on the harddrive of the computer 12 and converted to audible signals for listeningby a user.

Referring to FIG. 7, an enlarged view of the lower right portion of FIG.5 is illustrated to show details of the brake 60. The brake 60 allowsthe cable 13 to be pulled from the cable storage reel 50 via a ferritebead 50a, if desired, for noise suppression, filtering, and/or shieldingpurposes. The brake 60 also holds the cable in its extended or "pulledout" condition. The brake 60 can be released manually to enable theforce of the spring 52 to re-wind the cable onto the cable storage reel50, thereby pulling the cable back into the housing 34 and the RJ-11connector 18 into close engagement or positioning relative to the backend 61 of the PCMCIA card 10.

The PCMCIA card 60 includes an opening 62 in the back wall 61 thereof,and the cable 13 passes through the opening 62 from the inside area 54of the PCMCIA card 10 to the exterior 63 where the connector 18 usuallyis stored.

The brake 60 includes a brake member 70 that is located in the opening62 and is attached to the cover 34 by a pivot pin 71 or by some othermechanism to allow for pivoting movement of the member 70. The member 70may be, for example, a generally rectangular piece of plastic, rubber orother material that provides desired coefficient of frictioncharacteristics relevant to the cable 13 to hold the cable in aparticular withdrawn position against the force of the spring 52 whilepermitting the cable 13 to be pulled by manually applied force, forexample, out from the PCMCIA card 10. A location 73 on the brake member70 is intended to engage the cable 13 in the manner just describe. Morespecifically, the location 73 on the brake member 70 is intended toprovide sliding friction relative to the cable 13 with sufficient forceto prevent the cable from being withdrawn into the housing 34 by theforce exerted by the spring 52. However, such force applied by the brakemember 70 to the cable 13 ordinarily will be insufficient to prevent thecable 13 from being withdrawn from the housing 34 of the PCMCIA card 10.A spring 74 pulls or biases the brake member 70 generally to theposition illustrated in FIG. 7 to cause the location 73 of the brakemember to engage the cable 13. The spring 74 is attached at 75, forexample, by a pivot pin or by some other attachment mechanism to thebrake member 70 and also at 76 to a point of attachment on the cover oron the cover 34 or printed circuit board 30.

The brake 60 works, as follows. The RJ-11 connector 18 and cable 13 canbe pulled out from the PCMCIA card 10 by suitable manual force againstthe friction force applied by the brake member 70 which slides along thecable 13. When manual force is no longer being applied, the frictionforce applied by the location 73 of the brake member 70 against thecable 13 is sufficient ordinarily to prevent the cable from beingwithdrawn into the housing 34. However, when it is desired for the cableto be withdrawn into the housing for storage there, for example, manualforce can be applied to the outside face 77 of the brake member 70 topivot that member about the pivot point 71 releasing at least some, andpreferably all, of the friction force applied by the location 73 to thecable 13. The force supplied by the spring 52, then, ordinarily isadequate to rewind the cable 13 on the cable storage reel 50. The forceto pivot the brake member 70 may be applied by a finger of a person, bya separate instrument, by the back end 78 or the RJ-11 connector 18, orby some other means. Turning briefly to FIGS. 8 and 9, alternateembodiments of the invention are illustrated. Like reference numeralsdesignate like parts, as was mentioned above. However, the correspondingor like reference numerals are designated by a prime in FIG. 8 and by adouble prime in FIG. 9.

As is seen in FIG. 8, the PCMCIA card 10' is connected to the computer12' as aforesaid. However, rather than a separate cable being providedto interconnect the PCMCIA card 10' with an RJ-11 jack 14 at the wall19, an optical coupling 80 is used. The optical coupling 80 includes alight source 81 and a light detector 82 mounted on, in, or otherwiseexposed relative to the PCMCIA card housing 34' and circuit board 30'.At the RJ-11 connector 14' at the wall 19', there is a light source 83and light detector 84, as well as circuitry 85. The circuitry 85converts the signals received from the telephone system wires 20' tooptical signals for transmitting to the detector 82 at the PCMCIA cardat 10'. The detector 82 converts the received optical signals, such asinfrared signals, to electrical signals which can be used by theelectronic components on the printed circuit board 30' of the PCMCIAcard 10'.

To send optical signals from the PCMCIA card 10' to the detector 84 atthe wall 19' (or at some other device to which the computer 12 isintended to be connected via the PCMCIA card 10', the source 81 receiveselectrical signals from the electronic components on the circuit board30' of the PCMCIA card 10' and converts those signals to light signals,such as infrared light or other electromagnetic energy, wavelength,etc.; and those light signals are directed to the detector 83. Thedetector 83 and, if required, circuitry 85 convert such received lightsignals to appropriate electrical signals for transmission to thetelephone wire system 20'.

In FIG. 9 the PCMCIA card 10" includes a low power radio, such as a lowpower FM radio of conventional design generally designated 90. The radio90 includes an antenna 91 for sending or receiving signals relative toan antenna 92 and associated FM radio circuitry 93 located at the RJ-11wall jack 14" in the wall 19". As was described above with respect toFIG. 8, the respective radios 90, 93 and antennas 91, 92 may be used toprovide for interconnection between the computer 12" and the telephonecable and system designated 20".

In the embodiment described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7, there is noneed for special optical transmitter and receiver device 83, 84, 85 tobe connected to the RJ-11 wall jack 14' or for a line of sight opticalcoupling. There also is no need for radio signal transmission. Theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 does not require radio signaltransmission. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 does not require linesight transmission. None of the embodiments requires a separatetelephone cable.

An alternate embodiment 100 of miniature circuit card 101 such as aPCMCIA card with a retractable cord assembly 102 is shown in FIG. 10 andis described below with reference to FIGS. 10-32. The circuit card 101is a PCMCIA card; however, it may be another type of circuit card,housing or support, or other device with which the cord assembly 102 isemployed. The PCMCIA card 101 includes a printed circuit board 103 orthe like on which electrical and/or electronic components may be mountedin usual manner, as is conventional in PCMCIA cards. The PCMCIA cardalso includes a cover or housing 104, but only the bottom portion isshown, whereas the top portion has been removed or in any event is notillustrated in the drawing of FIG. 10 in order to show the retractablecord assembly 102. At one end of the circuit board 103 is a conventionalelectrical connector 105, such as that shown at 31 in FIG. 4. At theback end 106 of the PCMCIA card 101 is the retractable cord assembly102.

The retractable cord assembly 102 includes a circuit board supportdevice 110, a spool assembly 111, a lock assembly 112, the cord 113, anda connector or cable termination 114. In the illustration the cabletermination 114 is a male RJ-11 connector; however, it will beappreciated that other types of connectors or other devices may be usedas the cable termination. As was mentioned above, for example, the cabletermination may be a microphone or some other device; another example isan optical sensor, a temperature sensor, or some other sensor ordetector device. Further, the cable termination may be a device whichproduces a particular output, such as an optical output, a laser, atemperature output, and so on. The number of conductors in the cord,which sometimes referred to as a cable or as an electrical cable, may bea function of the type of duty the cord is to serve; such as a telephoneconnection device in which case two conductors typically would be used;but more or fewer conductors may be used, as will be appreciated. Anexemplary cord is sold under the designation "flex cable", which hasgood flexibility characteristics and strength and integritycharacteristics, too, so the cable in ordinary use will not break.

As is seen in FIG. 10, the cord 113 is wrapped on the spool 115 around aring 116, which are part of the spool assembly 111. The cord 113 exitsthe housing 104 through a ferrite bead 117, which may or may not berequired, depending on filtering or shielding requirements, through thelock assembly 112, and through an opening 118 in the housing 104. Whenthe cord 113 is substantially fully stored in the housing 104, it issubstantially fully wrapped around the ring 116; when the cord iswithdrawn from the housing 104, it is pulled, for example, at theconnector 114, and causes the spool 115 to rotate as the cord is pulledfrom the ring, through the ferrite bead 117 and out past the lockassembly 112. The cord is attached to the spool 115 at or near the endof the cord remote from the connector 114; and, therefore, the cordordinarily is not fully separated from the PCMCIA card 101. When it isdesired to withdraw the cord 113 back into the PCMCIA card 101 forstorage, the cord is re-wound on the ring 116 of the spool 115, as isdescribed further below.

Briefly referring to FIG. 11, the arrangement of circuit boards 103, 110and spool assembly 111 in the housing 104 is shown in elevation. Thecircuit boards 103, 115 are in spaced apart planar relation andoverlapping, as at 120 to permit interconnection thereof by electricallyconductive pins 121, a jumper or some other means. On the circuit boardsare respective electrically conductive traces 1125, for example twotraces on each board, which represent electrically connections withrespect to the to conductors of the cord 113. Each of those two traces(or more if more are required) on one board is connected to a respectivetrace on the other board via a respective pin connector 120. The pinconnectors may be soldered to plated through holes or the like in eachof the circuit boards. In this way, connection between the circuitry onthe circuit board 103 and the cord conductors can be made.

As is seen in FIG. 12 circuit traces 122, 123 on circuit board 110 areconnected to respective conductive connector pins 121 which in turn areconnected to respective circuit traces 124, 125 on circuit board 103(shown in FIG. 10). The circuit traces 122, 123 are coupled torespective terminal pads 126, 127 located on the bottom of the circuitboard 110 relative to the illustration of FIGS. 10-12. The terminal pads126, 127 in turn are coupled electrically to respective conductors ofthe cord 113, as is described further below. A circular electricallyconductive trace 128 is provided on the top surface of the circuit board110 for possible connection to another conductor, to a wiper terminal,or to some other electrical member, as may be needed. Other conductivetraces also may be included on or in the circuit board 110 for variouspurposes, as may be desired.

The circuit board 110 also includes a slot 129 therethrough to permitinsertion of an electrically conductive terminal portion of the powerspring 130 (FIGS. 10 and 17-19) or torsion spring for the spool 115 topass therethrough and to be located in engagement with the terminal pad126 for electrical connection thereto. The terminal pad 127 iselectrically isolated from the terminal pad 126 and the indicatedterminal portion of the power spring. However, the terminal pad 127 iscoupled electrically to an electrically conductive pivot pin 131(FIGS.15-16) by which the spool 115 is mounted to the circuit board 110through an opening 132.

As is seen in FIG. 12, the circuit board 110 may include an opening 133to retain the ferrite bead 117. The circuit board 110 also includes anopening 134 to 5 receive a further pivot pin 135 associated with thepawl 136 of the lock assembly 112 (FIGS. 1, 27 and 28) for mounting thepawl 136 to the circuit board 110 and to provide a pivot point for thepawl and the pawl spring 137 (FIGS. 10, and 29-31). A small opening 138through the circuit board 110 provides one anchor or point of fixationfor the pawl spring 137. A cut out area 139, such as the triangularshape cut out shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, is provided in the circuit board110 to provide space for movement of the pawl spring cord hook 140,which is described in further detail below. A conductive trace 141 maybe provided at and/or about the opening 134 in the circuit board 110 formechanical connection of and electrical connection to the pivot pin 135,if desired, for example, if it were desired to use the pivot pin 135 tomake electrical connection to another member.

Turning to FIGS. 13 and 14, the spool 115 is shown in detail. The spoolincludes a main spool circular section 150 having a top surface 151 anda bottom surface 152. (It is noted here that references to top andbottom, left and right, interior and exterior, or other directions, aregenerally with respect to the illustrations in the drawings. However,such reference to direction only is for convenience and the variousparts may be at other directional locations relative to other parts.)The ring 116 is an annular circular ring or step which depends from thebottom of the section 150. The ring 116 has an exterior surface 153relative to the central axis 154 of the spool, onto which the cord 113may be wound. The ring 116 also has an interior surface 155 relative tothe axis 154 against which part of the power spring 130 may be engaged.The ring 116 bounds an area 156 below the bottom surface 152 of thespool where the power spring is intended to be located; and the ringexterior surface also cooperates with the bottom surface of the spoolradially beyond the ring to form an area 157 where the cord 113 isstored.

A hollow cylindrical annular hub 158 circumscribes the axis 154 of thespool 115, bounds the area 156, and provides for support of the spoolfrom the pivot pin 131, which is located in the hollow interior of thehub. A groove or channel 160 in the top surface 151 of the spool 115receives therein a wiper terminal 161(FIGS. 22-25). An opening 162through the main section 150 of the spool 115 provides a space to locatea wire connecting support arm 163 of the wiper terminal 161 forsupporting and positioning the wiper terminal and for making connectionbetween the wiper terminal and one of the cord conductors. As is seen inFIGS. 13 and 25, such opening 162 extends through not only the mainsection 150 of the spool 115 but also through part of the ring 116,which increases the strength of support and connection for the wireconnecting support arm 163 and cord conductor and also reduces thepossibility of creep or like damage to the plastic material of which thespool may be made.

As is seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, two windows 164, 165 are provided throughthe main section 150 of the spool 115, each having a portion whichoverlaps the ring 116. The windows 164, 165 provide a space for clips166, 167 (FIGS. 10, 17-18 and 20-21) to clip about the ring onto thespool 115 do retain the cord to the ring. The clip 166 (FIGS. 10, 20,21) is a strain relief clip which holds the cord to the ring 116. Theclip 167 is part of the power spring 130 and is intended not only tohold one of the conductors of the cord to the spool but also to makeelectrical connection with that conductor and to provide a conductivepath through the power spring to the terminal pad 126 (FIG. 12). The topof each window 164, 165 preferably is recessed below the top surface 151of the main section 150 of the spool so that the respective clips do notprotrude above such surface 151 so as to help to maintain the surfacesmooth and to minimize the height profile of the spool assembly 111 andthe overall cord assembly 102.

The pivot pin 131, which is seen in detail in FIGS. 15 and 16, is anelectrically conductive pin. It has an elongate cylindrical shaft 170,which extends through the opening 132 of the circuit board 110 andthrough the hub 158. A flange 171 at the bottom of the pivot pin 131prevents the pin from being pulled up and out through the circuit board110. A groove, channel, or like recess 172 in the surface of the pivotpin 131 near the top receives the terminal wiper 161, as is seen in FIG.25, for example. The flange 171 is engaged with the terminal pad 127 andpreferably is soldered thereto or is attached thereto by conductiveepoxy or in some other manner which provides electrical connectionbetween the pivot pin 131 and the terminal pad and also may prevent thepivot pin from falling out from the circuit board 110. The pivot pin131, therefore, provides electrical connection between the wiperterminal 161 and the terminal pad 127.

Referring to FIGS. 17-19, the power spring 130 is shown in detail. Thepower spring 130 may be made of 301 stainless steel or some otherappropriately strong, yet resilient, and preferably non-corrodiblematerial with suitable characteristics to apply rotational force to thespool 115 and electrical connection between one of the cord conductorsand the terminal pad 126. In the illustrated embodiment, the powerspring 130 is from about 60 inches to about 70 inches in length; and itis of a width suitably matched to the height of the spool ring 116 as tobe fully retained within the area 156 without binding against thecircuit board 110. The power spring 130 may be wound in a generallyhelical fashion or in some other suitable fashion. At the outer end ofthe helically wound spring is the spring clip 167, which is formed byfolding the outer end of the spring generally in the manner shown inFIGS. 17 and 18. The spring clip 167 is so folded as to have a heightgreater than the width of the wound portion 173 of the power spring 130so as to extend into the window 165 of the spool on opposite sides ofthe ring 116 and to be trapped by walls of the main section 150 and/orring 116. Therefore, the spring clip 167 will tend not to movecircumferentially along the ring 116. This feature of the spring clip isalso designed so that as the spring is wound tightly at the center, thecombined tangential and normal forces do not result in the springdeforming and pulling off the ring 116 towards the central axis 154 ofthe spool.

The spring clip 167 us used to clamp one of the cord 113 conductorseither within the folds thereof, between the clip and the ring 116, orin some other way. Conductive epoxy, soldering, or some other techniquemay be used further to secure the conductor to the spring clip 167and/or to enhance the electrical connection between the power spring andthe conductor.

At the inner end 174 of the helically wound power spring 130 is anotherfolded section which forms a flat terminal connector surface or tail175, which is seen at the right-hand section of FIG. 17 and in FIG. 19.The folded arrangement in the power spring 130 inner end 174 providesthe connector tail 175 and support thereof below the major planar extentof the wound portion 173 of the power spring to assure that theconnector tail can fit through the slot 129 in the circuit board 110 andbe suitably positioned in engage with the terminal pad 126. Theconnector tail 175 preferably is soldered to or attached by conductiveepoxy or some other means to the terminal pad 126 for secure mechanicaland electrical connection thereto. This mechanical connection holds theinner end 174 of the power spring 130 in fixed location relative to thecircuit board 110 with the connector tail 175 positioned through theslot 129. Therefore, the inner end 174 of the power spring will not moveas the spool rotates about the pivot pin 131. Further, through theconnection between the outer end 167 of the power spring 130 to the cordconductor, the electrically conductive character of the power spring,and the connection of the power spring to the terminal pad 126,electrical connection can be made via the circuit trace 123, connectorpin 121 and circuit trace 124 on circuit board 103 to the othercircuitry on that circuit board.

Briefly referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the strain relief clip 166 isshown. The strain relief claim 166 may be metal or some other materialwhich has suitable flexibility to slip over the ring 116 to position theholding tabs 176 at the ends of the legs 177 thereof in the recessedwindow 164 of the spool. The strain relief clip holds the cord betweenone of the legs of the clip and the outer surface 153 of the ring 116.Other types of strain relief clips also may be used according to theinvention. It will be appreciated that the strain relief clip 166preferably holds both conductors of the cord, preferably the entirecord, in engagement with the ring so that the cord will not be pulledfree of the connections respectively to the wiper terminal 161 and thespring clip 167. The strain relief clip 166 tends to prevent stress frombeing applied to those conductor connections.

In FIGS. 22-24 the wiper terminal 161 is shown in detail. The wiperterminal includes the wire connecting support arm 163, which is intendedto be connected directly to a conductor of the cord, and an elongate,resilient arm 180. The wiper terminal 161 preferably is electricallyconductive. The remote end 181 of the arm 180 relative to the wireconnecting support arm 163 is intended to engage the pivot pin 131 atthe groove 172 thereof and to tend to be resiliently urged into thatgroove to be retained therein under usual circumstances of use. Theretaining of the wiper terminal 161 in the groove 172 of the pivot pinends to hold the spool on the pivot pin 131.

Referring to FIG. 25, the positioning of the wiper terminal 161 relativeto the spool 115, pivot pin 131, and opening 162 in the spool is seen.FIG. 25 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the spool looking down on thetop surface 151. The channel 160 is recessed in the top surface 151 andextends from the opening 162 to an area where the pivot pin 131 islocated at the center of the spool 115. The channel 160 is sufficientlydeep, e.g., about 0.020 inch, that the wiper terminal 161 does notextend above the plane of the top surface 151 of the spool 115. At thecenter of the spool 115 surrounding the pivot pin 131, except where thechannel 160 is cut, is a raised land 182 which serves as a thrustbearing for the spool. Such thrust bearing can bear against the insidesurface of the PCMCIA card case in case there is some movement of thespool toward that surface. The thrust bearing tends to prevent the otherportions of the spool from engaging such surface of the case, and thesize of the thrust bearing preferably is relatively small to minimizefriction that would resist rotation of the spool.

The wire connecting support arm 163 of the wiper terminal 161 fits intothe opening 162 of the spool 115. Into that opening 162 also is placedpart of the insulation and a conductor of the cord 113. Preferably theremaining space in the opening 162 is filled with conductive epoxy. Suchconductive epoxy not only mechanically holds the parts together in theopening 162 but also electrically connects the conductor and the wiperterminal. Further, the conductive epoxy preferably fills the space inthe opening 162 and, therefore, tends to prevent creep, which sometimescan happen to plastic under load conditions, in the plastic or othermaterial of which the spool is made in the area of the opening 162.Preventing creep and also mechanically and electrically connecting theconductor and the wire connecting support arm 163 tends to maintain theintegrity of the electrical and mechanical connection of the arm 163 andconductor. Further, as is described just below, such conductive epoxyhelps to assure that the support arm 163 is retained securely in theopening 162 as the wiper arm 180 is resiliently flexed.

As is seen in FIG. 25, the wiper terminal 161 is part of a stable threepoint system. Specifically, the end having the support arm 163 issecurely retained in the opening 162. The remote connecting end 181which fits in the groove 172 and is in relatively secure or strongwiping engagement with the pivot pin. A support 183, such as theillustrated support point, applies force to the wiper arm 180 of thewiper terminal 161 urging the remote connecting end 181 securely againstthe pivot pin 131. By moving the support force applying point 183 to alocation along the length of the wiper arm 180, the wiper arm tends notto be overstressed beyond its elastic limit, but it nevertheless is ableto engage the pivot pin securely without putting additional stress ortwisting moment on the support arm 163 that might tend to loosen theconnection of the latter at the opening 162.

In FIGS. 26-31 details of the locking assembly 112 including the pawl136 and pawl spring 137 are illustrated. The pawl 136 preferably is asingle piece molded plastic body 190 which has teeth 191 at one part,such as the illustrated corner, thereof. Such pawl teeth 191 areintended to correspond generally with the teeth 192 which circumscribethe outer perimeter of the spool. A serrated edge 193 of the pawl body190 is accessible at and possibly is exposed in the opening 118 of thecover 104 and is able to be manually addressed to move the pawl to adesired orientation locking or unlocking the spool 115, as may bedesired. A pawl spring 137 ordinarily urges the pawl 136 to anorientation rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.26, for example, to cause the teeth 191, 192 to mesh to lock the spool115 from rotating. The pawl also can be rotated in the indicatedcounterclockwise direction by manual force applied to the serrated edge193.

Furthermore, the pawl can be rotated clockwise to unmesh the teeth 191,192 thereby unlocking or freeing the spool 115 for relatively freerotation in a counterclockwise rotation relative to the illustration ofFIG. 26 permitting the cord 113 to be pulled out from the cover orhousing 104 of the PCMCIA card. Such clockwise rotation can be achievedby pulling the cord out from the opening 118 in a direction that movesthe cord relatively close to the opening wall 194 causing the cord toengage a hook 140 of the pawl spring 137 to rotate the pawl spring andthe pawl counterclockwise about the pivot pin 135. Alternatively oradditionally, the pawl can be moved manually to rotate it clockwise tounmesh the teeth 191, 192 thereby to unlock the spool 115.

The pawl body 190 has a channel or slot 200 in the bottom surfacethereof to receive an arm 201 of the pawl spring. The hook 140 of thepawl spring is at an end of the arm 201. The hook 140 includes a bend202 which extends below the level of the circuit board 110 and fits inand moves within the area of the triangular cut out 139. The bend 202and the upstanding leg 203 of the hook 140 are sufficiently large inheight direction to tend to assure that the cord will not come out ofposition as not to engage the leg 203 if pulled along the wall 194 aswas mentioned above. Since the cord comes out approximately at the levelof the surface of the circuit board 110, it is necessary that the bendextend below the surface of the circuit board, otherwise, too, therewould be unnecessary rubbing of the cord against the pawl spring causingwear of the cord and/or pawl spring and/or tending to cause binding ofparts against each other.

The pawl spring 137 includes a plurality of spring coils 204 which fitin the pawl body 190 at recess 205. The pawl spring 137 also includes atab 206 at the end of an arm 207. The tab 206 fits into the opening 138in the circuit board 110 to anchor the pawl spring thereto.

An axial opening 210 through the pawl receives the pivot pin 135, whichmay be the same as the pivot pin 131. A thrust bearing surface 211 atthe top of the pawl body 190 can abut the inside of the top cover of thePCMCIA card.

Briefly looking at FIGS. 32 and 33, the ferrite bead 117 is shown. Theferrite bead is hollow and the cord 113 may pass through the hollowinterior passage 212. The ferrite bead is provided, if necessary, forthe usual filtering, noise isolation, etc. purposes. The ferrite beadmay be in plural sections which clamp around the cord so that the corddoes not have to be threaded through the passage 212. The ferrite beadmay be retained in position on the circuit board by the opening 133 andalso by the top and bottom covers 104 of the PCMCIA card.

Assuming the circuit board 103 contains a modem or a faxmodem and theretractable cord assembly 102 is intended to connect to a telephoneconnector using the male connector 114, connections are made by theretractable cord assembly between the connector 114 and circuitry on thecircuit board 103 via traces 124, 125. More particularly, the cord 113includes two conductors. One of those conductors is connected via thespring clip 167, power spring 130, terminal pad 126, trace 122, and aconnector pin 121 to trace 125 on the circuit board 103. The otherconductor is connected via the wiper terminal 161, pivot pin 131,terminal pad 127, trace 123, and a connector pin 121 to the trace 124 onthe circuit board 103.

The cord may be stored within the retractable cord assembly 102 in thePCMCIA card 101 until ready for use. During such storage, the powerspring 130 tends to maintain the spool 115 in a clockwise wounddirection with the cord 113 stored in the area 157. The pawl 136 isurged in counterclockwise direction by the pawl spring 137 bringingteeth 191, 192 into meshed engagement. As long as the location of thatmeshed engagement relative to a line drawn between the pivot axes (orrotation axes) of the spool and pawl, respectively, is on the "upstream"side of the spool relative to the direction toward which the spool isbeing rotated by the power spring 130, such meshed engagement will tendto be a reinforcing locking engagement whereby the teeth 191 and 192will lock into engagement with each other. Thus, the pawl spring 137 andthe torsion spring or power spring 130 will tend to force the pawl 136and the spool 115 into opposed rotational direction relative to eachother to achieve such locking.

To withdraw the cord 113 out from the housing 104, the cord can bepulled. If the cord is pulled out and to the left as viewing FIG. 10from the back end 106 of the housing 104, the cord will engage the pawlspring hook 140 and will pull the pawl out of engagement with the wallspool thereby freeing the spool to rotate substantially only against theforce of the power spring 130 and whatever friction there may be.Alternatively, the pawl can be manually rotated clockwise to unlock thespool. Furthermore, if the pawl does not unlock from the spool 115, dueto the relative positioning of the teeth 191, 192 and the rotating ofthe spool 115 in the counterclockwise direction as the cord 113 ispulled, the teeth 191 will ride along the teeth 192 with a "clicking"action. Although this may be less desirable than smooth operation withthe pawl fully unlocked as described above, nevertheless the cord stillcan be pulled from the housing.

To permit the torsion power spring 130 to pull the cord back into thehousing 104, the pawl is rotated clockwise either by pulling against thehook 140 by the cord as the cord is allowed to be pulled back into thehousing, or by manual application of force directly to the pawl, e.g.,to the serrated edge 193.

It is noted herein that where a part is referred to as electricallyconductive, it is to be understood that the part may be made entirely ofconductive material or, equivalently, the part may be made of partlyconductive material or of nonconductive material which is coated with orotherwise provided with electrically conducting characteristics. Theseveral springs may be of metal and where so described are electricallyconductive. The spool 115 and pawl 136 preferably are of plastic, suchas high strength or engineering plastic material and preferably are notelectrically conductive. The circuit board 110 may be of plastic orother suitable material, and the circuit board 103 may be ofconventional material as is the usual case in a PCMCIA card.

It will be appreciated that although the invention is described abovewith respect to a retractable cord mechanism in a miniature circuitcard, such as PCMCIA card, the retractable cord mechanism can be used inmany other applications. For example, the retractable cord mechanism maybe used in another electrical or electronic device, such as a computer,modem (whether on a circuit card inside a computer or a free standingmodem), control equipment, network equipment, computers (whether on acircuit card of the computer or elsewhere built into the computer), andso on.

Referring, now, to FIGS. 34-41, another embodiment of the invention isillustrated and will be described in detail hereinbelow. Variousportions of the invention embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 34-41 whichcorrespond to those already described above will not be described indetail, as the above description generally applies thereto.

As is illustrated in FIG. 34, a PCMCIA card 300 is shown in plan viewwith the top housing cover removed to expose the inside of the card; thetop housing cover may be of the type described elsewhere herein or ofsome other type. The bottom portion of the card is not shown; it may beas is described above, e.g., including a circuit board, a modem, othercircuitry, connector, etc. Although the invention is described belowwith respect to a PCMCIA type card, it will be appreciated that thevarious features of the invention may be used in other types ofelectrical circuit cards, housings containing printed circuit boards orelectronic components, etc.

The PCMCIA card 300 includes in a housing 301 a cable storage assembly302, a circuit card support 303 for supporting the cable storageassembly in the housing 301, one or more other electrical components,electrical connectors, printed circuit cards, or the like, etc., in thelower portion of the PCMCIA card not shown in FIG. 34, and a storagelocation 304 for storing at least part of an electrical connector 305 inthe housing 301. The storage location 304 may be fully enclosed by topand bottom walls of the housing 301 or, alternatively, the storagelocation 304 may be a recess or recessed zone between portions of thehousing 301, such as along the sides of the area where the electricalconnector 305 would be stored, and may be open at the bottom and/or topwall of the housing 301. The bottom wall of the housing is designated306 in FIG. 34, and only a part of that wall is seen beneath the circuitcard support 303; and the top wall of the housing 301 is not seen inFIG. 34, as it has been removed to expose the various mechanisms in thePCMCIA card 300 housing 301.

The cable storage assembly 302 includes a storage reel 310 mounted inthe housing 301, for example, in the manner described above. Anelectrical cable 311 is intended to be stored at least partly on thestorage reel 310. One end of the electrical cable 311 is connectedmechanically and electrically to the electrical connector 305.

A pivot post 313, which may be fixed or rotatable, guides the electricalcable 311 from the reel 310 to the electrical connector 305 at thestorage location 304 to provide a straight or linear path for pullingthe cable and connector out of the PCMCIA card 300 and for feeding thecable back into the PCMCIA card for wind up storage on the reel 310. Anelectrical cable 313, only a part of which is shown in FIG. 34, iselectrically connected to the electrical cable 311 by a mechanism (notshown), such as one of the mechanisms described above; the electricalcable 313 may be a trace on a printed circuit board, a separateelectrical cable, etc., as is described above. The electrical cable 313may be connected to other circuitry in the PCMCIA card 300, to anelectrical connector which is intended to be connected to a furtherdevice, such as a PCMCIA connector in a computer or in some otherdevice.

The cable storage assembly 302 includes around the outer perimeterthereof a plurality of teeth 314 intended to cooperate with a ratchetassembly 315. A spring or other means (not shown in FIG. 34) ordinarilyapplies a force or torque to the storage reel 310 tending to wind thecable 311 on to the storage reel 310, rotating the reel 310 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the illustration of FIG. 34. The teeth314 are shaped for cooperation with the ratchet assembly 315 so as topermit the cable 311 to be pulled off the storage reel 310 withoutsignificant interference by the ratchet assembly 315. The ratchetassembly 315 includes a locking member or surface 316, which cooperateswith the teeth 314 to block counter clockwise rotation of the storagereel 310. A spring 317 ordinarily urges the locking member 316 intoengagement with the teeth 314. However, the locking member is mounted ona support 318, which is pivoted around a pivot pin 319; and when pivotedagainst the force of the spring 317, the support 318 withdraws thelocking member 316 from engaging the teeth 314 to permit counterclockwise rotation of the storage reel 310. Activation of the support318 is accomplished by pressing in on a push button type member 320, asis illustrated in FIG. 34.

More specifically, the spring 317 is a coiled spring having one arm 330,which may be attached to part of the housing 301 and has another arm331, which can be moved in response to urging by a tab 332, which may bepart of the support 318. The coil part of the spring 317 is wrappedaround the pivot 319. Ordinarily the spring urges the lock member 316into engagement with the teeth 314. If the reel 310 is pulled by thecable 311 in a clockwise direction, the locking member releases bysliding over the respective teeth 314. If the push button 320 is pushedin when it is desired to withdraw cable from the PCMCIA card 300,rotation of the storage reel 310 is made easier because the lockingmember 316 may be moved out of engagement with the storage reel. Whenthe push button 320 is released, the spring 317 urges the locking member316 into engagement with the teeth 314 to tend to block or to preventcounter clockwise rotation of the storage reel 310 that would take upcable 311.

The storage location 304 may be an area inside the PCMCIA card 300housing 301, which can be accessed through an opening 340 in the frontwall 341 of the housing 301, as is seen in FIG. 34A. The electricalconnector 305 may be pulled (or pushed) from the storage location outthrough the opening 340 along with the electrical cable 311 or theelectrical cable and the electrical connector may be delivered back intothe PCMCIA card housing through the opening 340.

Alternatively, the storage location 304 may be a slot-like area 342,which is seen in FIG. 34B. The slot-like area 343 is located at the areaof the front wall 341 of the housing 301 and may be open at the top andbottom in the manner illustrated in FIG. 34B. Alternatively, theslot-like area may be open only at the top or bottom. The slot-like area343 is open at the front 341 so that the electrical connector 305 andcable 311 can be withdrawn from or returned into the PCMCIA card 300. Ifthe storage location 304 is a slot-like area 343, then preferably theelectrical connector when in its stored position, such as thatillustrated in FIG. 34, none of the electrical connector is exposedabove or below the top or bottom or out from the front 341 of thehousing 301. Furthermore, in either embodiment illustrated in FIG. 34Aor FIG. 34B, preferably the electrical connector 305 is stored entirelywithin the housing 301 of the PCMCIA card 300; alternatively, a portionof the electrical connector 305 may extend out from the opening 340 orout from the front wall 341 of the housing 301. These variousembodiments and arrangements of the storage location are exemplary. Itwill be appreciated, though, that the invention provides a structure,mechanism and method for storing part or all of the electrical connector305 and cable 311 in the PCMCIA card 301 or other electrical device inaccordance with the invention. Such storage provides for protection ofthe electrical connector; such storage also reduces the total sizerequirements of the PCMCIA card 300 or the like, e.g., by avoiding theneed for a member to be intruding significantly from the housing 301thereof.

The electrical connector 305 may be of the type used as an RJ-11electrical connector typically employed in telephone systems. Theelectrical connector 305 may be other types of electrical connectors,too, in accordance with the spirit and scope of the invention. Thedescription below is directed to an RJ-11 type electrical connector;however, it will be appreciated that the description would beappropriately related to other types of electrical connectors if used.

The electrical connector 305 has a main body portion 350 and asupplemental body portion 351, which are connected together by a hinge352. In the main body portion 350 are one or more electrical terminals,contacts or the like intended to mate with other types of electricalmembers for electrical connection therewith. The electrical cable 311includes one or more electrical conductors and appropriate electricalinsulation, etc., and such conductors are connected to respectiveelectrical terminals. If desired, the terminals and part of the cablemay be molded directly into the main body portion 350 of the electricalconnector 305 or they may be otherwise installed in the main bodyportion 350 or otherwise mounted with respect thereto.

The height (or thickness) dimension of the PCMCIA card 300 ordinarily isinadequate to receive a conventional RJ-11 electrical connector therein.Therefore, the electrical connector 305 is divided into two portionshinged together as the foldable type connector shown in FIG. 34, forexample. In open or unfolded condition, the height or thicknessdimension of the connector 305 is sufficiently small to permit storagein the storage location 304 of the card 300 housing 301.

The two portions 350, 351 of the electrical connector may be foldedtogether about the hinge 352 to make an electrical connector of anappropriate height or thickness for use in electrical connection to aconventional telephone connector socket 355, which is shown in FIG. 35.The socket 355 includes an opening 356 in a housing 357 and may be aconventional telephone wall jack socket device. Electrical terminals(not shown) in the opening 356 are provided to make electricalconnection with the terminals of the electrical connector 305. The shapeor configuration of the opening 356 in the housing 357 is intended tocooperate with features of the electrical connector 305 to lock theelectrical connector in position, for example, in the conventional waythat a telephone connector of the RJ-11 type is connected to a telephonewall socket or the like.

Various walls, such as wall 360 and the top and bottom walls and theleft side wall 361 of the housing 301 may be provided to define thevolume of the storage location 304, as is seen in FIG. 34. A latch tab363 on an arm 364 of the support 318 (or on some other supportstructure) may engage with a recess 365 or other feature on part of themain body portion or supplemental body portion 350, 351 of theelectrical connector 305 to retain the electrical connector in thestored position in the storage location 304. The latch tab 363 may bewithdrawn, for example, to the right relative to the illustration ofFIG. 34, from the feature 365 of the electrical connector 305 therebyreleasing the electrical connector for removal from the storage location304 and exposure and use outside the PCMCIA 300. To effect such movementof the latch tab 363 the push button 320 may be pressed causing thesupport 318 and 364 to pivot about the pivot 319 in a counter clockwisedirection. Therefore, upon pressing the push button 320, the electricalconnector 305 is released to be ejected out of the housing 301 and thelocking member 316 is removed from engagement with the teeth 314 of thestorage reel 310, which removes the resistance afforded by the lockingmember 316 against the teeth 314 permitting easier rotation of thestorage reel 310 in a clockwise direction allowing cable 311 to bepulled with the connector 305 out from the housing.

A mechanism 370 ejecting or urging the electrical connector 305 out ofthe housing 301 out of the storage location 304 facilitates such removalof the electrical connector when it is intended to use it for connectionto another device, for example. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.34, and exemplary mechanism 370 is shown including a spring 371 and apin 372. The spring 371 is mounted in a chamber 373 formed in thehousing 301 to contain the spring. An opening 374 near the top of thechamber allows the pin 372 to protrude out from the chamber 373 toengage the electrical connector. In response to the force of the spring371 against the pin 372, such pin tends to urge the electrical connector305 out of the housing 301 out from the storage location 304. The pin372 may be an integral part of the spring or it may be a separatemember. Other resilient means or manually actuable means may be used tourge the electrical connector 305 out of the housing.

The force or strength with which the latch tab 363 retains theelectrical connector 305 in the storage location preferably iscoordinated with the force usually exerted by the mechanism 370 tendingto urge the electrical connector out of the housing, whereby the latchtab retains the electrical connector in the storage location withsufficient strength or force to prevent the mechanism 370 from causingthe electrical connector 305 to be ejected or pushed out of the housingunless the latch tab 363 is withdrawn from the locking feature 365 ofthe electrical connector. Additionally, the force with which themechanism 370 urges the electrical connector 305 out of the housing 301should be sufficiently great to be able to overcome the force of thespring or other mechanism that ordinarily tends to urge the storage reel310 to wind the cable 311 in counter clockwise motion onto the storagereel. Therefore, when the latch tab 363 is released from the electricalconnector 305, the mechanism 370 urges the electrical connector out ofthe housing with sufficient force to overcome the force exerted by thecable storage assembly 302 mechanism tending to wind the cable 311 on othe storage reel 310.

In FIGS. 36 and 37 two types of exemplary RJ-11 electrical connectors305, 305a are illustrated. Each electrical connector includes a bodyformed of a main body portion 350 and a supplemental body portion 351which are connected by a hinge 352. In the connector 305, the hingeincludes a pivot pin 380 and pivot pin retainers to form a pivot pintype hinge connection 381. In the connector 305a, the hinge 352 is aliving hinge in which a web-like portion 383 attached to both the mainand supplemental body portions resiliently or pliably to bend to open orclosed configuration. Specifically, the hinges 352 allow the bodyportions to fold to open configuration shown in FIG. 34 for insertion ofthe connector into the housing 301 or to fold closed to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 37 for insertion into the socket 355 (FIG.35).

As is seen in FIGS. 36 and 37, the connectors 305, 305a include a body400, sometimes referred to as a pin block. A plurality of electricalterminals (sometimes referred to as contact pins) 401 are mounted in orfastened in the main body 400. In the embodiments illustrated herein,the terminals 401 are mounted in the main body portion 350; but, ifdesired, the terminals and the supplemental body portion 351 may beconfigured for mounting of the terminals in the supplemental bodyportion. Ledges or walls 402 may be used to separate the respectiveelectrical terminals 401 in conventional manner of an RJ-11 connector.If desired, such ledges or walls may be eliminated provided there issuitable space maintained between the contacts 401.

As is conventional in an RJ-11 connector, a biased retention clip 403 isattached to or is part of the body 400 of the connector; in theillustrated embodiments the clip 403 is attached to the supplementalbody portion 351. The clip 403 includes a broad relatively fixed end404, a relatively narrower free end 405, and a transition notch 406.Upon insertion of the connector 305 into a socket 355, for example,electrical connection is made between the terminals 401 and contacts orthe like in the socket 355; and the clip 403 locks the connector in thesocket, e.g., by engagement with an appropriate locking ledge (notshown) or the like in the socket 355. By applying appropriate force tothe free end 405 of the clip 403, the clip is deflected resiliently tofree the connector from the socket, as is conventional for RJ-11connector systems, for example.

Although the clip 403 to lock the connector 305 in the socket 355 ispart of the supplemental body portion 351, it will be appreciated thatother designs of clips or locking mechanisms may be used and be part ofthe main body portion 350. Furthermore, if desired, other types ofmechanisms may be used to retain the connector 305 in a socket 355 orthe like.

Turning to FIGS. 38, 39, 40 and 41, the foldable electrical connector305 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment the present inventionis shown in greater detail. The connector 305 includes the main andsupplemental body portions 350, 351. The electrical contacts 401 are inrespective cavities 420, are secured in the main body portion 350 bymolding or press fit, for example, are attached to respective conductorsof the cable 311, and are exposed at area 421 of the main body portion350 for electrical connection to contacts or the like in the socket 355.

A sloped land 422 on the main body portion 350 provides a stop for thesupplemental body portion 351 when it is rotated, flipped, folded,pivoted, etc., to the closed condition or state illustrated in FIG. 36,for example. The hinge support openings for the hinge 352 are shown inthe main and supplemental body portions, and a hinge pin or pivot pin380 is in place in those openings to complete the hinge 352 to permitthe main and supplemental body portions to be rotated relative to eachother between the open condition shown in FIGS. 34 and 38-40 and theclosed condition illustrated in FIGS. 36 and 37.

As is seen in FIG. 40 in particular, an insert 423 may be used to retainand to position the contact terminals 401 in the cavity 420 for exposureat the area 421. The carrier insert 423 and main and supplemental bodyportions 350, 351 preferably are of electrically nonconductive material,such as plastic, polymer, etc., as is conventional. The contacts 401, ofcourse, are electrically conductive to make the desired electricalconnections.

The carrier insert 423 may include a tail portion 424 which is moldedabout part of the cable 311 to provide strain relief. The tail 424 alsomay be substituted for the rod/pin 372 for cooperation with the spring370 to push the connector 305 out of the housing 301; in such case, thetail may be separate from the cable 311.

The supplemental body portion 351 includes a support structure 450 inwhich the hinge openings for the hinge 352 are formed, from which theclip 403 is supported, and from which members 451 containing lands 452are supported. The clip 403 is located between the pair of such members451. The members 451 may add mass and/or structural strength to thesupplemental body portion 351. Additionally, the lands 452 of themembers 451 cooperate with the lands 422 of the main body portion 350 tolimit flipping, folding or pivoting relative motion of the supplementalbody portion 351 to the main body portion 350 to the closed condition.For example, the connector 305 is shown in FIG. 41 in fully open,partially open and fully closed condition with the clip 403 shownrespectively at 403a, 403b, 403c extending generally longitudinally outfrom, generally perpendicular to and generally back over from the majorplanar extent of the main body portion 350 and cable 311. In the fullyopen condition cooperative lands 460, 461 of the members 451 and of themain body portion 350, respectively, cooperate to limit maximum opening.In the fully closed condition, cooperative lands 452, 422 limit thefully closed condition while the clip 403 still is able to be bentresiliently to permit locking and unlocking of the connector 305 withrespect to a socket 355, for example.

Turning to FIG. 42A and 42B, an alternative embodiment for connectingthe main body portion 350 and supplemental body portion 351 of theconnector 305 is depicted in which a hinge assembly 500 releasably andpivotably supports the main body portion 350 to the supplemental bodyportion 351. Thus, if the supplemental body portion 351 were ever to bedamaged or otherwise become unuseable, the supplemental body portion 351may be removed and replaced without the need to replace the entirePCMCIA card 10.

As seen in FIG. 43 the hinge assembly 500 includes a housing 505defining a cylindrical cavity 507 in which a retaining spring 510 isdisposed. Opposite ends of the housing 505 include a stop plate 513 anda circular pin aperture 517. A pair of retaining shafts 514 partiallydisposed within the cavity 507 each include a cylindrical stem portion515, a flange 518, and a pin 521. The stem portion 515 has acircumference just slightly smaller than an inner circumference of theretaining spring 510 defined along axis 530 and is positioned therein.The flange 518 of each retaining shaft 514 is connected rigidly to thestem portion 515 and includes inner and outer surfaces 533, 535,respectively. The inner surface 533 of the flange 518 engages with anend of the retaining spring 510 while the outer surface 535 abuts aninner surface of the stop plate 513 of housing 505. The pin 521 issecured to each flange 518 and is sized to fit through the pin aperture517. The retaining spring 510 supplies axially outward pressure on theretaining shafts 514 thereby providing for the pins 521 to protrudeoutward from the pin aperture 517 when the hinge assembly 500 is in aneutral position. Upon an appropriate amount of inward pressure placedon either pin 521, the corresponding retaining shaft 514 is retractedinward towards a central portion of the cavity 507 thereby allowingdevices to be released from the hinge assembly 500.

Returning again to FIGS. 42A and 42B, the hinge assembly 500 is shown tobe secured rigidly within a hinge assembly receiving groove 530 definedalong a top surface 532 of the supplemental body portion 351 ofconnector 305. The hinge receiving groove 530 is slightly longer than alength of the hinge assembly 500 thereby defining a pair of securinggrooves 537 at opposite ends of the hinge assembly 500. The hingeassembly 500 is secured within the receiving groove 530 using adhesivesor the like. It will be appreciated, however, that while the presentembodiment depicts the hinge assembly 500 to include a separate housing505, the housing 505 may alternatively be directly molded as part of thesupplemental body portion 351 during manufacture.

The main body portion 350 includes a pair of securing flanges 541 sizedto fit within one of the respective securing grooves 537 defined withinthe supplemental body portion 351. More particularly, a length of eachsecuring flange 541 substantially is the same as a length of thesecuring groove 537 such that side walls 538 of the main body portion350 remain flush with side walls 539 of the supplemental body portion351 when the main body portion 350 and side body portion 351 are coupledtogether as shown in FIG. 42B. The securing flanges 541 each include asecuring aperture 545 sized to receive the pin 521 of the hinge assembly500.

In order to pivotably attach the main body portion 350 to thesupplemental body portion 351, an operator places an inward axiallydirected force on one or both of the pins 521 of the hinge assembly 500.In turn, the respective pin 521 is depressed inward towards the stopplate 513 (FIG. 43). While depressed, the operator slides the securingflange 541 of the main body portion 350 over the depressed pin 521 andmoves the securing flange 541 until the securing aperture 545 is alignedwith the pin 521. Once aligned, the pin 521 automatically retractsaxially outward through at least a portion of the securing aperture 545due to the force exerted by the retaining spring 510. The pins 521 maybe placed simultaneously or sequentially into its respective securingaperture 545 at the option of the operator. Once both pins 521 aresecured in its respective securing aperture 545, the main body portion350 is secured pivotably to the supplemental body portion 351 and may berotated in the direction indicated by arrows 550 (FIG. 44B).

Referring to FIGS. 44A and 44B, another embodiment of present inventionis shown in which the hinge assembly 500 is secured rigidly to the mainbody portion 350, and the supplemental body portion 351 includes a pairof securing flanges 555 having securing apertures 557 for interfacingwith the pins 521 of the hinge assembly 500. The manner in which thehinge assembly 500 is secured to the main body portion 350 andinterfaces with the securing flange 555 is similar to the mannerdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 44A and 44B in which the hingeassembly 500 is coupled to the supplemental body portion 531. As such,the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 44A and 44B similarly provide for themain body portion 350 and supplemental body portion 351 of the connector305 to releasably and pivotably be secured to one another.

FIGS. 45A and 45B depict an alternative embodiment for pivotably andreleasably securing the main body portion 350 and supplemental bodyportion 351 of the connector 305. The main body portion 350 includes apair of securing flanges 561. The securing flanges 560 include asecuring aperture 561 having a recessed step 562. The recessed step 562allows a screw head 563 of a screw 564 inserted into the securingaperture 561 to be positioned substantially flush with the side wall 538of the main body portion. The supplemental body portion 351 defines acylindrical tube 565 having a pair of threaded apertures 569 at oppositeends of the tube 565. Similar to the hinge assembly 500, the tube 565 issized slightly shorter in length than the length of the supplementalbody portion 351. More particularly, the length of the tube 565 is suchthat securing grooves 573 defined at opposite ends of the tube 565 havea width approximately equal to a width of the securing flanges 578 ofthe main body portion 350. Thus, as shown in FIG. 45B, upon securing theupper body portion 350 to the lower body portion 351, the side walls 538of the upper body portion 350 and the side walls 359 of the lower bodyportion substantially remain flush such that the RJ-11 jack may beeasily inserted and removed from a corresponding socket.

In order to couple pivotably the main body portion 350 to thesupplemental body portion 351, the an operator initially aligns thethreaded apertures 569 in the tube 565 of the supplemental body portion351 with the securing apertures 561 in the securing flange 560 of themain body portion 350. Next the operator inserts the screws 564 throughthe securing apertures 561 and into the threaded apertures 569. Thescrews 564 are tightened securely while still allowing for rotation ofthe supplemental body portion 350 in a direction indicated by arrows585. Although the present embodiment shows the tube 565 to be defined inthe supplemental body portion 351 and the securing flanges 560 to beincluded as part of the main body portion 350, it will be appreciatedthat the tube 565 may be included on the main body portion 350 andsecuring flanges 560 may be included on the supplemental body portion.

Further, it will be appreciated that the present invention includesadditional ways of releasably and pivotably securing the main bodyportion 350 and supplemental body portion 351 of a connector and is notlimited to the embodiments described above. For instance, rather thanusing a hinge assembly 500 or screws 564 to attach the main body portion350 to the supplemental body portion 351 it is possible to define a pairof circular studs on one of the two portions 350, 351 and provide acorresponding pair of flanges on the other of the two portions 350, 351having stud receiving grooves. In order to connect the main body portion350 to the supplemental body portion 351 the flanges are each be bentoutwards until the respective stud can be positioned within the studreceiving groove and then the flange is released. The stud receivinggrooves are sized to allow the studs to rotate within the groovesthereby providing for rotation of the main body portion 350 with respectto the supplemental body portion 351. Further, to detach the main bodyportion 350 from the lower body portion 351 the flanges could be bentoutwards again until the respective studs could be removed from therespective groove. The present invention is intended to include all suchembodiments and others.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides apparatus andmethod for storing an electrical connector in a PCMCIA circuit card orthe like even though the connector ordinarily would be too large to fitinto the space confines of such circuit card. The invention alsoprovides apparatus and method for reducing the size of an electricalconnector or the like by making the connector foldable.

Although the invention is described with respect to an RJ-11 typeelectrical connector, it will be appreciated that the features of theinvention may be employed with other types of electrical connectors.Other exemplary, but non-limiting, types of connectors include RJ-45,other RJ type connectors, LAN connectors, telephone connectors,television and/or radio connectors, multimedia connectors, computerconnectors, modem connectors, etc. The connectors may be of the 2, 4, 6,8 or other number of contact type. Exemplary connectors in which thefeatures of the invention may be employed are sold by AMP Incorporated,Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and are referred to in the AMP catalog, forexample, at page 7058, for example, as "2-, 4-, 6-Position PlugAssemblies", "6-Position Plug Assemblies (Long Body)", and "8-PositionPlug Assemblies." Also, although the invention is disclosed with respectto a PCMCIA type circuit card, it will be appreciated that the inventionmay be used with other types of devices, circuit cards, etc. These arebut a few examples and there are, of course, others. The presentinvention is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications andequivalents thereof and is intended to be limited only by the scope ofthe following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined in the following claims:
 1. A pivotableRJ-type male plug connector, comprisinga connector body including a mainbody and a supplemental body; an electrical terminal mounted to saidmain body for making an electrical connection; a locking member forholding the connector in an electrical device for making electricalconnection; and means for releasably attaching the main body to thesupplemental body, wherein in the event the supplemental body isattached to the main body, the supplemental body is pivotal with respectto the main body between open and closed positions and cooperative withthe main body when in the closed position to complete the connectorbody.
 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the means for releasablyattaching includes a spring loaded hinge having a retractable pincoupled to one of the main body and supplemental body and a means forreceiving the retractable pin in the other of the main body and thesupplemental body.
 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the means forreceiving is a securing aperture.
 4. The connector of claim 1, whereinthe means for releasably attaching includes a screw and the main bodyand the supplemental body each include apertures for receiving thescrew.
 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said locking member isdisposed on said supplemental body.
 6. The connector of claim 5, whereinsaid locking member comprises a resilient tab-like member.
 7. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein said connector body is shaped to bereceived by a telephone jack.
 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein saidconnector comprises an RJ-11 type electrical connector.
 9. The connectorof claim 1, further comprising a circuit card including a support forelectronic components and a retractable cord mechanism mounted withrespect to said support, and wherein electrical connection is betweenthe retractable cord mechanism and the electrical terminal.
 10. Apivotable RJ-type male plug connector comprising:a connector bodyincluding a main body and a supplemental body; an electrical terminalmounted to said main body for making an electrical connection; and alocking member for holding the connector in an electrical device formaking electrical connection; said supplemental body being detachablewith respect to said main body, wherein in the event the supplementalbody is attached to the main body, the supplemental body is pivotal withrespect to the main body between open and closed positions andcooperative with the main body when in the closed position to completethe connector body.
 11. The connector of claim 10, further including ahinge assembly coupled to one of the main body and the supplemental bodyfor securing detachably the main body to the supplemental body.
 12. Theconnector of claim 11, wherein the hinge assembly includes a retainingspring and a retractable pin engaged with an end of the retainingspring.
 13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the retaining spring isdisposed in a cavity defined within the one of the main body and thesupplemental body.
 14. The connector of claim 12, wherein said hingeassembly further includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving theretaining spring and the housing is coupled to the one of the main bodyand the supplemental body.
 15. The connector of claim 12, wherein theother of the main body and the supplemental body includes means forreceiving the hinge assembly.
 16. The connector of claim 10 furtherincluding a plurality of screws rotatably securing the main body to thesupplemental body.